Listening

Task 1. Listen to the radio programme and complete the student’s notes.
https://english-exercises.net/practice-english-listening-a2-exercises-topic-the-internet-and-
technology/
Types of 1_____________: industrial, waiter, teacher
Robots are 2_____________ now than in past, not expensive

event reason

Robots weren’t used very much in

since they were 3__________.
the past

Joey Abbica couldn’t walk because of an 4__________.

People have a much better quality

thanks to these 5__________.
of life

Scientists can find out about

due to the 6__________.
pollution quickly

[6]
Reading
Task 2. Read the article and answer the questions
A long time ago, robots belonged to science fiction. Children loved looking at movies with
robots. Today, robots are real, and they are helping us. In the future, we will all have robots.
They will vacuum the floor, wash the dishes, perhaps even drive our cars. I even think one day
we’ll have robot friends. In Japan today, robot engineers are making robots to help old people
and to keep them company. It’s still early days. I’d say we are another 20 to 30 years away from
robots being everywhere in our lives. What will happen to us when the world is full of robots?
There’ll be no jobs. McDonalds will be full of smiling robots. Maybe one day we won’t be able
to tell robots and humans apart. Maybe they’ll take over the world.

Answer the questions

1. Which category did robots belong to?
_____________________________________________________________________________
______
2. What will robots do in the future?
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______
3. Which functional job are robots being created with in Japan?
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______
4. How long does it take for robots to appear everywhere in our lives?
_____________________________________________________________________________
______
5. Which creations will be in McDonalds?
_____________________________________________________________________________
______
6. What will happen to us when the world is full of robots?
_____________________________________________________________________________
______
[6]
Writing
Task 3. Choose one topic and write an essay following the criteria
Topic 1. Technology can make our lives better
Topic 2. Technology is dangerous for people
 Reveal the topic of the essay using some own examples, proves, thoughts
 Convey ideas clearly
 Develop coherent paragraphs at text level using a variety of connectors
 Write correct structured sentences
 Use vocabulary words appropriately and spell words accurately

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 _____________________________________________________________________________

________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

________

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________ [6]

Speaking
Task 4. Choose one card and prepare you speech
 answer the questions using examples and explanations where it needs
 speak without long pauses during the speech
 pronounce the words correctly,
 make correct grammar structured sentences
 use connectors for compound sentences
 follow the given questions

Audioscripts
Host: Welcome to University Radio, the station run by students for students. I’m Chen Hu and
this is Science Today. Our subject is technological development and our guest is Professor
Joanne Kent, expert in robotics. Thanks for coming in, Professor. When we think of robots, we
generally think of science fiction films. Is this out of date?
Professor: Yes, it is. Technology had developed very fast over the last ten years and robots are
part of everyday life. Robots can now do many important things.
Host: What kinds of things?
Professor: Well, they have been used in factories for years; Japan and China have the most
industrial robots in the world. But now robots are coming into our lives in other ways. In Japan,
Thailand and Hong Kong, for example, there are robot waiters in restaurants and in South Korea
a robot is used as an English teacher. Robots weren’t used very much in the past, since they were
always really expensive. But because they have become cheaper, they are being used in new and
interesting ways. One key area is the way robots can help with medical care.
Host: Can you explain that a little more?
Professor: Well, a good example is the robotic suit for disabled people. Robots can now assist
people who can’t walk. They can help them to move again. People ‘wear’ the robot, like clothes.
The robot then helps move the person’s arms or legs. For example, one man, Joey Abbica,
couldn’t walk because of an accident at work three years earlier. Before the accident, Joey could
surf really well. In fact, he won lots of competitions, but after the accident he couldn’t walk at
all. He wasn’t even able to sit up on his own when a visitor came. And he couldn’t even feel his
legs when doctors touched them. But when he put on the robotic suit, he was able to stand up and
walk on his own again. He isn’t able to walk at all without the suit. Robotics changed his life.
Host: So people have a much better quality of life, thanks to these new types of robots?
Professor: Yes, that’s right. Service robots are also very helpful to people.
Host: What do service robots do?
Professor: Well, one of the reasons that service robots were invented is to save people time.
They do all the jobs around the house that people find difficult, dirty or boring. For instance,
robots can put clothes into a washing machine, and plates and cups into a dishwasher and they
can clean your kitchen and bathroom. But for some people, service robots are really important;
they’re not just a luxury. Elderly people, for example, can’t always do housework easily. They
might need help from robots. The robot means they are able to stay in their own homes for
longer.
Host: So, robots can help people in their everyday life, but how do they help more generally?
Professor: Robots are now solving modern problems, too. Have you heard of robotic fish?
Host: I haven’t, but I assume they are robots that swim in water. What do they do?
Professor: They were developed to help scientists with information collection. They look like
fish, they swim and move like other fish, but when they are swimming, they can collect
information about the amount of pollution in the water. Scientists can find out about pollution
quickly, due to the robotic fish.
Host: Well, we’ve heard of robots that clean your house, so it’s good to know they can help
keep the environment clean, too. OK, we have some questions coming in, so let’s hear the first
one …